Mississippi Optical Network

Lighting Mississippi’s path to the future

With an act of the Mississippi Legislature, the Mississippi Optical Network, MissiON, became a reality in 2011. The network serves the Mississippi Research
Consortium -- comprised of the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, University of Southern Mississippi, and Jackson State University;
the University of Mississippi Medical Center; the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer
Research and Development Center; and the Stennis Space Center.

Built in collaboration with the state-contract telecommunications provider at the time, MissiON originally consisted of dual 10Gb links from each participant to the
network core, hosted by the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services, and a pair of 10Gb links to Internet2. With the award of a new state contract
for telecommunications in early 2018, work began on a dramatic overhaul of the MissiON infrastructure and plans to upgrade all interconnections
ten-fold to 100Gb links.
The continued commitment of the state of Mississippi to such a vital infrastructure enables allows Mississippi research institutions and businesses to compete on a global scale.

“As Mississippi’s leading broadband communications provider, C Spire is proud to provide innovative, cutting-edge technology and the latest network infrastructure that will help
power the important work of the MissiON network and enable researchers to pursue 21st century challenges and solutions,” said Hu Meena, CEO of C Spire. “As we enter the era of machine
learning, artificial intelligence, augmented reality and the Internet of Things, this commitment to an all-fiber communications infrastructure will enable advances by our leading
research universities and help our state grow and diversify its economy, create new job opportunities and improve the quality of life for everyone.”